Byron Dorgan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Byron Dorgan
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Official portrait, 2008
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| United States Senator from North Dakota |
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| In office December 15, 1992 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Kent Conrad |
| Succeeded by | John Hoeven |
| Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | John McCain |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Akaka |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Dakota's at-large district |
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| In office January 3, 1981 – December 14, 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Mark Andrews |
| Succeeded by | Earl Pomeroy |
| 18th Tax Commissioner of North Dakota | |
| In office March 31, 1969 – January 6, 1981 |
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| Governor | William Guy Art Link |
| Preceded by | Edwin Sjaasstad |
| Succeeded by | Kent Conrad |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Byron Leslie Dorgan
May 14, 1942 Dickinson, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (D-NPL) |
| Spouse | Kimberly Olson |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of North Dakota (BS) University of Denver (MBA) |
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Byron Leslie Dorgan (born May 14, 1942) is an American author and former politician from North Dakota. For 30 years, he served in the United States Congress, first as a U.S. Representative and later as a U.S. Senator. He is a member of the Democratic-NPL Party.
After leaving the Senate in 2011, Dorgan became a senior policy advisor for a law firm in Washington, D.C. He also works with groups that focus on energy policy and government reform. He teaches as a professor at Georgetown University and is a best-selling author of five books.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Byron Dorgan was born in Dickinson, North Dakota, and grew up in the small town of Regent, North Dakota. His family background includes Irish, Swedish, German, and Norwegian heritage.
After graduating from Regent High School, he went to the University of North Dakota. He later earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Denver. Before starting his political career, Dorgan worked in the aerospace industry for companies like Boeing.
Start in North Dakota Politics
Dorgan's career in public service began when he was only 26 years old. He was appointed as the North Dakota State Tax Commissioner after the previous commissioner passed away. This made him the youngest person to hold such a high-level office in North Dakota's history.
He was very popular and was re-elected twice by large margins. A magazine called Washington Monthly named him one of the "Ten Outstanding State Officials" in the country. In 1980, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he served the people of North Dakota for 12 years.
Serving in the U.S. Senate
In 1992, Dorgan was elected to the United States Senate. The Senate is one of the two parts of the U.S. Congress, and each state has two senators. He was re-elected in 1998 and 2004, serving a total of 18 years as a senator.
During his time in the Senate, Dorgan became an important leader in the Democratic Party. He was known for his strong opinions and was often asked by the media to comment on major issues.
Key Issues and Policies
Dorgan focused on several key areas during his Senate career. He was a strong opponent of trade agreements that he believed sent American jobs to other countries. He also worked to change U.S. policy toward Cuba, helping to pass laws that allowed the sale of food and medicine to the country.
Energy and Technology
As a chairman of important Senate energy committees, Dorgan was a big supporter of renewable energy like wind power. He helped create rules that encouraged the growth of a renewable fuels industry.
He also played a key role in exploring North Dakota's oil resources. He pushed for a study of the Bakken Formation, which revealed that it contained billions of barrels of oil. This discovery helped create many jobs in his home state. Dorgan also helped create the Red River Valley Research Corridor, which brought new high-tech jobs to the region.
Warning About the 2008 Financial Crisis
Years before the major economic crisis of 2008, Senator Dorgan warned about dangers in the financial system. As early as 1994, he spoke out against risky and unregulated trading by big banks.
In 1999, he was one of only eight senators who voted against a law that removed rules for banks. During the debate, he famously said, "I think we will look back in 10 years' time and say we should not have done this." His prediction turned out to be accurate when the financial crisis hit less than a decade later.
Leaving the Senate
In January 2010, Dorgan announced that he would not run for re-election. He said the decision was not because he was unhappy with his job or worried about the election. He gave his final speech in the Senate on December 9, 2010, ending his 30-year career in Congress.
Life After Politics
After leaving the Senate, Dorgan has remained active in public life. He has focused on helping others and sharing his knowledge.
Center for Native American Youth
Dorgan used $1 million from his old campaign funds to start the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY). This non-profit organization works to help young Native Americans who live on reservations. The center focuses on important issues like preventing teen suicide and creating educational opportunities. Dorgan serves as the chairman of the center's board without pay.
Author and Advisor
Dorgan is also a successful author. He has written five books, including two non-fiction books about politics and the economy. He has also co-written two fictional thrillers. His most recent book, "The Girl in the Photograph," tells the true story of a Native American girl.
He continues to work as a policy advisor, a professor, and a board member for several organizations, including the Argonne National Laboratory.
Personal Life
Dorgan is married to Kimberly Olson. They have two children, Brendon and Haley. Dorgan also has a son, Scott, from a previous marriage and is a grandfather.
Writings
Nonfiction
- Take This Job and Ship It: How Corporate Greed and Brain-Dead Politics Are Selling Out America (2006)
- Reckless!: How Debt, Deregulation, and Dark Money Nearly Bankrupted America (And How We Can Fix It!) (2009)
- The Girl in the Photograph: The True Story of a Native American Child, Lost and Found in America (2019)
Fiction
- Blowout (2012)
- Gridlock (2013)
See also
- 1986 United States Senate election in North Dakota
- 1992 United States Senate election in North Dakota
- 1998 United States Senate election in North Dakota
- 2004 United States Senate election in North Dakota
